Mystery - At The Dawn Of A New Millennium | ||
Tracks:
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Album Cover: ![[Image]](../../Images/mystery.jpg)
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Label: Unicorn Records Producer: Michel St-Pere Year: 2000 Total Playing Time: 70:31 m:s Review date: 19/04/2001 |
| Web site: www.unicornrecords.com/mystery Email: | ||
| Rating: 85 % | ||
| Verdict: Classy pomp with progressive leanings | ||
| Mystery were formed in 1986. In their career they have released 3 albums - Mystery in 1992, Theatre Of The Mind in 1996 and Destiny? in 1998. The more progressive direction of Destiny? prompted singer Gary Savoie to quit in 1999. A new singer, Benolt David, has been found, but the whole process has led to a delay in recording a new album. To plug the gap and close a chapter in the history of the band, this compilation album has been released.
Mystery's music is a mixture of pomp and progressive elements - comparisons being Kansas, Styx and Saga. These are all top class acts in my book and Mystery are easily on a par with them. Once we get over the slightly dubious start of "Destiny?", "Theatre Of The Mind" is a captivating Styx-like tune. By the time you've listened to "Before The Dawn" and "In My Dreams" you'll agree that the word that best sums up Gary's vocal is 'beautiful'. "Black Roses" is an 8 min epic that takes a few twists and turns and at one point heads off into Jethro Tull territory which if fine with me. Around this point you'll notice that all the tracks have a slow start and build up gradually. My one criticism of the album is that after 6 or so tracks of this, it gets somewhat predictable and I certainly found myself looking for a different tact. Whilst not a full frontal attack, at least "Cinderella" does crank up the guitars in a brisk manner and it turns out to be one of the more rockin' numbers on offer. The album closes with a trio of songs from the third album. A Styx-like beginning heralds the pomp-AOR of "The Mourning Man". Another slow start to "Submerged", before the band move up a gear and rock out a little. It is nice to see that the band have learnt a few tricks along the way as this is better than "Cinderella" from the first album. The band's progressive leanings reach fruition on the 15 min epic - "Shadow Of The Lake". Where would the world of progressive music be without Dream Theater? On this final track Mystery add a touch of DT to their sound, rather than merely plagiarizing it. The band tackle the epic format with ease and "Shadow Of The Lake" vies with "Theatre Of The Mind" to be my favorite track. If you haven't checked out Mystery before, this compilation makes an excellent starting point. | ||
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